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Sunday, November 29, 2015

There are only a few examples of authorial copies and first drafts (autographs) from antiquity. Sean Alexander Gurd in Work in Progress: Literary Revision as Social Performance in Ancient Rome, listed out several accepted examples of literary "autographs" from antiquity (note 44 pages 132-133).

Besides these literary "autographs," Gurd also mentioned several "documentary" drafts of letters, wills, and contracts. Maryline G. Parcia in Ptocheia, or, Odysseus in Disguise at Troy: P. Köln VI 245 (American Studies in Papyrology 31) also listed several literary "autographs" in note 7 pages 3-4 (I have not included the duplicate papyri that were already noted by Gurd above).

Each of these ancient examples of papyrus "autographs" (and other writing materials) have extensive marginal or interlinear corrections and re-writings. It is these markings (usually in the same hand as the main body of text) that indicate to papyrologists that these documents were unfinished and in the draft stage of composition. The assumption is that a completed work of literature would not have these types of extensive re-writings.These few examples give us a first hand glimpse of what the first-drafts of New Testament and other early Christian writings may have looked like before they were completed and released for copying and circulation.

P. Köln VI 245 (3rd cen. CE) Detail of interlinear alterations.

P. Oxy VII 1015 (3rd cen. CE) Authorial Draft of an Encomium.

P. Köln VI 245 (3rd cen. CE) Detail of interlinear alterations.

[UPDATE]
I published a paper in 2016 that utilized a couple of the autographs referenced here.